Systems and methods for graphics adjustment based on output resolution

ABSTRACT

A graphics adjustment system detects the video resolution of digital video to be output by a receiving device and saves the graphics settings input by the user when the user adjusts the graphics settings on the receiving device such that the digital video being presented in the presentation device is not cut off due to overscanning. The system saves the graphics adjustment settings as the setting to use going forward for digital video of that same resolution for that particular presentation device. In this manner, the digital video output from the receiving device will not be cut off when presented on the presentation device, even when the receiving device is switching between receiving digital video programming of different resolutions from various program distributors and/or the content providers.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field relates to digital video, and particularly toproviding graphics adjustments to digital video.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Systems and methods for graphics adjustment detect the video resolutionof the digital video to be output by a receiving device and saves thegraphics settings input by the user when the user adjusts the graphicssettings on the receiving device such that the digital video beingpresented in the presentation device is not cut off. The system savesthe graphics adjustment setting as the setting to use going forward fordigital video of that same resolution for that particular presentationdevice. The system may also indicate that setting is to be used for aparticular resolution on a particular presentation device, as differentpresentation devices may require different graphics adjustment settingsfor digital video of different resolutions.

In some embodiments, each time digital video is received by the system,the system checks a database to see if there is a previously storedgraphics adjustment setting for that particular resolution. If found inthe database, the system will then apply the previously stored graphicsadjustment setting for that particular resolution to the digital videobefore it is output to the presentation device. In this manner, thedigital video output from the receiving device will not be cut off whenpresented on the presentation device, even when the receiving device isswitching between receiving digital video programming of differentresolutions from various program distributors and/or the contentproviders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative toeach other. Like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an overview block diagram illustrating an example contentdistribution environment in which embodiments of systems and methods forgraphics adjustment based on output resolution may be implemented,according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating elements of an example receivingdevice used in graphics adjustment based on output resolution, accordingto one example embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method of providing graphics adjustmentbased on output resolution, according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method of providing graphics adjustmentbased on output resolution, according to another example embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method of providing graphics adjustmentbased on output resolution, according to another example embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method of providing graphics adjustmentbased on output resolution, according to another example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Many televisions and presentation devices perform what is referred to asoverscanning of video being presented on the display, which results in asituation in which the entire digital video frame is not presented on adisplay of the presentation device and thus, the edges of the digitalvideo frames are cut off. This often results in 3% to 10% (or more) ofthe digital video image being cut off. Also, the amount and effect ofthe overscan problem can change based on the particular resolution ofthe digital video being input to the presentation device by thereceiving device 118 and also the particular display. Graphicsadjustments may be made to the video to be output to the presentationdevice, such as resizing or repositioning the frames of the digitalvideo before the overscan by the presentation device is performed. Forexample, the resizing of the digital video content may includedownscaling of digital video frames of the digital video content suchthat the entire video frame fits into a smaller area on the screen whichthen allows for edges of the originally sized area to be cut off withoutlosing any part of the scene.

Even if a user may be able to manually make such graphics settingsadjustments on the receiving device as the video is being output to thepresentation device to make the entire image appear on the presentationdevice, when the receiving device receives video of a differentresolution, it may appear cut off again when presented on the display ofthe same presentation device. Thus, the systems and methods for graphicsadjustment described herein detect the video resolution of the digitalvideo to be output by the receiving device and save the graphicssettings input by the user when the user adjusts the graphics settingson the receiving device such that the digital video being presented onthe presentation device is not cut off. The system saves the graphicsadjustment setting as the setting to use going forward for digital videoof that same resolution for that particular presentation device. Thesystem may also indicate that setting is to be used for a particularresolution on a particular presentation device, as differentpresentation devices may require different graphics adjustment settingsfor digital video of different resolutions.

FIG. 1 is an overview block diagram illustrating an example contentdistribution environment 102 in which embodiments of systems and methodsfor graphics adjustment based on output resolution may be implemented,according to one example embodiment.

Before providing additional details regarding the operation andconstitution of systems and methods for graphics adjustment based onoutput resolution, the example content distribution environment 102,within which such a system may operate, will briefly be described.

In the content distribution environment 102, audio, video, and/or dataservice providers, such as television service providers, provide theircustomers a multitude of video and/or data programming (hereafter,collectively and/or exclusively “programming”). Such programming isoften provided by use of a receiving device 118 communicatively coupledto a presentation device 120 configured to receive the programming. Theprogramming may include any type of media content, including, but notlimited to: television shows, news, movies, sporting events,advertisements, etc. In various embodiments any of this programming maybe provided as a type of programming referred to as streaming mediacontent, which is generally digital multimedia data that issubstantially constantly received by and presented to an end-user orpresented on a device while being delivered by a provider from a storedfile source. Its verb form, “to stream”, refers to the process ofdelivering media in this manner. The term refers to how the media isdelivered rather than the media itself.

The receiving device 118 interconnects to one or more communicationsmedia or sources. For example, the various media content may bedelivered as data using the Internet protocol (IP) suite over apacket-switched network such as the Internet or other packet-switchednetwork. The underlying connection carrying such data may be via a cablehead-end, satellite antenna, telephone company switch, cellulartelephone system, Ethernet portal, off-air antenna, or the like. Thereceiving device 118 may receive a plurality of programming by way ofthe communications media or sources, or may only receive programming viaa particular channel or source. This programming may be received orformatted by the receiving device in various different formats andresolutions. In some embodiments, based upon selection by a user, thereceiving device 118 processes and communicates the selected programmingto the presentation device 120. Also, in some embodiments, thepresentation device 120 may also be a receiving device 118 or have areceiving device 118 integrated within it.

For convenience, examples of a receiving device 118 may include, but arenot limited to devices such as, or any combination of: a “televisionconverter,” “receiver,” “set-top box,” “television receiving device,”“television receiver,” “television,” “television recording device,”“satellite set-top box,” “satellite receiver,” “cable set-top box,”“cable receiver,” “media player,” “digital video recorder (DVR),”“digital versatile disk (DVD) Player,” “computer,” “mobile device,”“tablet computer,” “smart phone,” “MP3 Player,” “handheld computer,”and/or “television tuner,” etc. Accordingly, the receiving device 118may be any suitable converter device or electronic equipment that isoperable to receive or playback programming. Further, the receivingdevice 118 may itself include user interface devices, such as buttons orswitches. In some example embodiments, the receiving device 118 may beconfigured to receive and decrypt content according to various digitalrights management (DRM) and other access control technologies andarchitectures as part of the process of graphics adjustment based onoutput resolution to the receiving device 118, which will be describedin further detail below.

In many applications, a remote-control device (“remote”) 128 is operableto control the receiving device 118 and/or the presentation device 120.The remote 128 typically communicates with the receiving device 118using a suitable wireless medium, such as infrared (“IR”), radiofrequency (“RF”), or the like, including, but not limited to devicesusing Bluetooth® wireless technology, Wi-Fi® wireless technology, RadioFrequency for Consumer Electronics (RF4CE) wireless technology, etc. Inthe present example embodiment, the remote 128 is configured, accordingto an example embodiment, to input graphics adjustment settings to thereceiving device 118, which will be described in further detail below.In other embodiments, the remote 128 could instead or also be a smartphone, tablet or other device that could has software program and/orhardware elements that would allow a service provider to use it with thereceiving device 118.

Examples of a presentation device 120 may include, but are not limitedto, one or a combination of the following: a television (“TV”), apersonal computer (“PC”), a sound system receiver, a digital videorecorder (“DVR”), a compact disk (“CD”) device, DVD Player, game system,tablet device, smart phone, mobile device or other computing device ormedia player, and the like and is able to display video of variousresolutions. Presentation devices 120 employ a display, one or morespeakers, and/or other output devices to communicate video and/or audiocontent to a user. In many implementations, one or more presentationdevices 120 reside in or near a customer's premises 116 and arecommunicatively coupled, directly or indirectly, to the receiving device118. Further, the receiving device 118 and the presentation device 120may be integrated into a single device. Such a single device may havethe above-described functionality of the receiving device 118 and thepresentation device 120, or may even have additional functionality.

A content provider 104 provides program content, such as televisioncontent, to a distributor, such as the program distributor 106. Examplecontent providers include television stations which provide local ornational television programming and special content providers whichprovide premium based programming, pay-per-view programming andon-demand programming.

Program content (i.e., a program including or not includingadvertisements), is communicated to the program distributor 106 from thecontent provider 104 through suitable communication media, generallyillustrated as communication system 108 for convenience. Communicationsystem 108 may include many different types of communication mediaincluding those utilized by various different physical and logicalchannels of communication, now known or later developed. Non-limitingmedia and communication channel examples include one or more, or anyoperable combination of, telephone systems, the Internet, cable systems,fiber optic systems, microwave systems, asynchronous transfer mode(“ATM”) systems, frame relay systems, digital subscriber line (“DSL”)systems, radio frequency (“RF”) systems, cellular systems, and satellitesystems.

In at least one embodiment, the received program content is converted bythe program distributor 106 into a suitable signal (a “program signal”)that is ultimately communicated to the receiving device 118. Variousembodiments of the receiving device 118 may instead receive programmingfrom program distributors 106 and/or directly from content providers 104via locally broadcast RF signals, cable, fiber optic, Internet media, orthe like via the communication system 108.

For example, Video on Demand (VOD) systems may allow a user of thereceiving device 118 to select, watch and/or listen to video and audiocontent on demand of various different resolutions. For example“Internet Television” and “Internet Protocol Television” (IPTV) aresystems through which various media content is delivered using theInternet protocol (IP) suite over a packet-switched network such as theInternet represented by communication system 108 to the receiving device118, instead of being delivered through traditional channels usingterrestrial, satellite signal, and cable television formats of thecommunication system 108, and thus may be delivered at various differentvideo resolutions. In various example embodiments, such technologies aredeployed within the content distribution environment 102 such as insubscriber-based telecommunications networks of the communication system108 with high-speed access channels into the customer premises 116 viathe receiving device 118 (e.g., a set-top box or other customer-premisesequipment) to bring VOD services to the customer premises 116.

In various example embodiments, television VOD systems stream mediacontent of various resolutions via the communications system 108 underdirect or indirect control of the program distributor 106 to thereceiving device 118. Television VOD systems may stream content to areceiving device 118 such as a set-top box, DVD player, game system,smart phone, television (including a smart TV), PC, a sound systemreceiver, a digital video recorder (“DVR”), a compact disk (“CD”)device, tablet device, mobile device or other computing device or mediaplayer, and the like, allowing viewing in real time at the customerpremises 116, or download it to a receiving device 118 such as acomputer, DVR (also called a personal video recorder) or portable mediaplayer for viewing at any time. The program distributor 106 may offerVOD streaming of various different resolutions, including pay-per-viewand free content, whereby a user buys or selects a movie or televisionprogram and it begins to play on the presentation device 120 almostinstantaneously, offer downloading of the media content to a DVR rentedfrom the program distributor, and/or offer downloading the content ontoa computer or mobile device, for viewing in the future.

In some embodiments, the receiving device 118 may be a set-top box thatis typically provided by the cable provider, satellite provider, orother program distributor 106 to which the customer may subscribe toreceive such on-demand services at various different resolutions, andthat also receives programming through traditional channels using aterrestrial, satellite signal, and/or cable television format, which mayalso be at various different resolutions. However, in many embodiments,the receiving device 118 may instead be other user equipment than theset-top box such as a television, DVR, DVD player, Tablet, PC, SmartPhone or other media player not provided by or controlled by the cableprovider, satellite provider, or other program distributor 106 to whichthe customer subscribes for such on-demand services.

Often, as described above, the video received by the receiving device118 from various different sources described above may be of variousdifferent resolutions. Even if the presentation device 120 is capable ofdisplaying digital video of various different resolutions, the digitalvideo of the various different resolutions output by the receivingdevice may not display properly on the presentation device 120 due tooverscanning by the presentation device, which results in edges beingcut off of the digital video frames when displayed on the presentationdevice 120. However, the systems and methods described herein forgraphics adjustment based on output resolution provide solutions whichovercome this difficulty and enables the presentation device to displaydigital video of various different resolutions without the user havingto adjust the graphics settings of the presentation device 120 orreceiving device 118 each time when switching to video of a differentresolutions to avoid having the edges of the frame cut off.

The above description of the content distribution environment 102, thecustomer premises 116, and the various devices therein, is intended as abroad, non-limiting overview of an example environment in which variousembodiments of graphics adjustment based on output resolution may beimplemented. FIG. 1 illustrates just one example of a contentdistribution environment 102 and the various embodiments discussedherein are not limited to such environments. In particular, contentdistribution environment 102 and the various devices therein, maycontain other devices, systems and/or media not specifically describedherein.

Example embodiments described herein provide applications, tools, datastructures and other support to implement graphics adjustment based onoutput resolution. Other embodiments of the described techniques may beused for other purposes, including graphics adjustment based on outputresolution for digital video to be transmitted to, recorded by or playedby various other receiving devices, content distribution equipment, DVDplayers and recorders, digital recorders, computers, peripherals, mobiledevices, and other electronic devices, etc. In the followingdescription, numerous specific details are set forth, such as dataformats, program sequences, processes, and the like, in order to providea thorough understanding of the described techniques. The embodimentsdescribed also can be practiced without some of the specific detailsdescribed herein, or with other specific details, such as changes withrespect to the ordering of the code flow, different code flows, and thelike. Thus, the scope of the techniques and/or functions described arenot limited by the particular order, selection, or decomposition ofsteps described with reference to any particular module, component, orroutine.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating elements of an example receivingdevice 118 used in providing graphics adjustment based on outputresolution, according to one example embodiment.

In one embodiment, the receiving device 118 is a device such atelevision, DVR, DVD player, PC, tablet device, game machine, smartphone, mobile device or other computing device or media playerconfigured to receive and process media content, including digital videocontent, and to display such programming on a presentation device. Inother embodiments, the receiving device 118 is a set-top box configuredto receive, process and display on a presentation device streaming mediacontent programs and/or other programming such as cable or satellitetelevision broadcasts via various other physical and logical channels ofcommunication.

Note that one or more general purpose or special purpose computingsystems/devices may be used to operate the receiving device 118, storeinformation regarding the receiving device 118, store graphicsadjustment settings and communicate with the content provider 104 and/orprogram distributor 106. In addition, the receiving device 118 maycomprise one or more distinct computing systems/devices and may spandistributed locations. Furthermore, each block shown may represent oneor more such blocks as appropriate to a specific embodiment or may becombined with other blocks. Also, the graphics adjustment operationmanager 222 may be implemented in software, hardware, firmware, or insome combination to achieve the capabilities described herein.

In the embodiment shown, receiving device 118 comprises a computermemory (“memory”) 201, a display 202 (including, but not limited to alight emitting diode (LED) panel, cathode ray tube (CRT) display, liquidcrystal display (LCD), touch screen display, etc.), one or more CentralProcessing Units (“CPU”) 203, Input/Output devices 204 (e.g., buttonpanel, keyboard, mouse, RF or infrared receiver, universal serial bus(USB) ports, other communication ports, and the like), othercomputer-readable media 205, and network connections 206. The graphicsadjustment operation manager 222 is shown residing in memory 201. Inother embodiments, some portion of the contents and some, or all, of thecomponents of the graphics adjustment operation manager 222 may bestored on and/or transmitted over the other computer-readable media 205.The components of the receiving device 118 and graphics adjustmentoperation manager 222 preferably execute on one or more CPUs 203 andfacilitate the receiving, decrypting, decoding, processing, scaling,resizing, re-positioning, selecting, recording, playback and displayingof programming, as described herein. The graphics adjustment operationmanager 222 may also facilitate on-demand media services (e.g., VODservices), on-demand program ordering and process received streamingmedia content and other programming. The graphics adjustment operationmanager 222 may operate as, be part of, or work in conjunction and/orcooperation with various on-demand service software applications storedin memory 201. The graphics adjustment operation manager 222 alsofacilitates communication with peripheral devices and the remote 128,via the I/O devices 204 and with remote systems (e.g., the contentprovider 104 and/or the program distributor 106) via the networkconnections 206.

Recorded or buffered programming received as streaming media content orother types of programming may reside on the other data repository 220,for storing, processing and displaying of the received media contentaccording to the applicable resolution associated with the digital videoof the particular programming. The other data repository 220 may alsostore various program metadata associated with the recorded or bufferedprogramming stored in the other data repository 220, such as thatincluding, but not limited to, resolution indicators, format indicators,tags, codes, identifiers, format indicators, timestamps, useridentifications, authorization codes, digital signatures, etc.

The graphics processing module 224 is configured to process the digitalvideo content, including detecting the resolution of the digital videocontent, apply graphics adjustments according to the detected resolutionand render the data for display on a particular presentation deviceaccording to the graphics adjustment settings stored in the graphicsadjustment setting storage 216.

In one embodiment, the graphics processing module 224 detects theresolution of digital video content to be output from the receivingdevice 118 to a display, such as presentation device 120 shown inFIG. 1. Digital video resolution refers to the number of distinct pixelsin each dimension that the digital video is able to provide in itsnative format for display on a display capable of the same displayresolution. A video frame is composed of lines. In digital video, eachline is sampled to create a number of pixels (samples) per line. Themore lines there exists per frame, the higher the image resolution. Themore pixels there exists per line, the higher the resolution of eachline. For example, High definition (HD) video with 1080 lines uses 1920pixels per line (1920×1080 pixels). HD video with 720 lines uses 1280pixels per line (1280×720 pixels). Both of these formats have an aspectratio of 16:9. “4K Ultra High Definition”, or “4K UHD”, is for displaysthat have an aspect ratio of 16:9 or wider and at least one digitalinput capable of carrying and presenting native video at a minimumresolution of 3840×2160 pixels. “8K Ultra High Definition”, or “8K UHD”,is 7680 pixels wide by 4320 pixels tall (7680×4320 pixels). Otherresolutions exist and the systems and methods for graphics adjustmentbased on output resolution may be applied to various other resolutionsas well. The detection of the digital video resolution by the graphicsprocessing module 224, for example, may be performed by the graphicsprocessing module 224 reading applicable metadata from the digital videosignal being input to the receiving device which indicates theresolution of the digital video being received. However, other methodsof detecting video resolution may be implemented.

Many televisions and presentation devices perform what is referred to asoverscanning of video being presented on the display, which in effectresults in a situation in which the entire digital video frame is notpresented on a display of the presentation device and thus, the edges ofthe digital video frames are cut off. This often results in 3% to 10%(or more) of the digital video image being cut off. Also, the amount andeffect of the overscan problem can change based on the particularresolution of the digital video being input to the presentation deviceby the receiving device 118 and also the particular display. Graphicsadjustment may be made to the video to be output to the presentationdevice, such as resizing or repositioning the frames of the digitalvideo before the overscan by the presentation device is performed. Forexample, the resizing of the digital video content may includedownscaling of digital video frames of the digital video content suchthat the entire video frame fits into a smaller area on the screen whichthen allows for edges of the originally sized area to be cut off withoutlosing any part of the scene. In some embodiments, such an adjustmentmay indicate an x,y pixel coordinates defining an area in which thedigital video information is to be rendered or presented.

Even if a user may be able to manually make such graphics settingsadjustments on the receiving device 118 as the video is being output tothe presentation device to make the entire image appear on thepresentation device, when the receiving device 118 receives video of adifferent resolution, it may appear cut off again when presented on thedisplay of the same presentation device. Thus, the graphics processingmodule 224 detects the video resolution of the digital video to beoutput by the receiving device 118 and saves the graphics settings inputby the user when the user adjusts the graphics settings on the receivingdevice 118 such that the digital video being presented on thepresentation device is not cut off. The graphics processing module 224saves the graphics adjustment settings in the graphics adjustmentsetting storage 216 as the setting to use for digital video of that sameresolution going forward for that particular presentation device. Thegraphics processing module 224 may also indicate that setting is to beused for a particular resolution on a particular presentation device, asdifferent presentation devices may require different graphics adjustmentsettings for digital video of different resolutions. The graphicsprocessing module 224 does the above process for digital videoprogramming of different resolutions such that the graphics adjustmentsetting storage 216 has graphics adjustment settings stored for digitalvideo of various different resolutions.

Each time digital video is received by the graphics processing module224, the graphics processing module 224 may then check the graphicsadjustment setting storage 216 database to see if there is a previouslystored graphics adjustment setting for that particular resolution (andin some embodiments, the particular presentation device to which thevideo is to be output). If found in the graphics adjustment settingstorage 216, the graphics processing module 224 will then apply thepreviously stored graphics adjustment setting for that particularresolution to the digital video before it is output to the presentationdevice. In this manner, the digital video output from the receivingdevice 118 will not be cut off when presented on the presentationdevice, even when the receiving device 118 is switching betweenreceiving digital video programming of different resolutions from theprogram distributor 106 and/or the content provider 104.

In response to detecting the resolution of the digital video content tobe output from the receiving device 118 to the display, the graphicsprocessing module 224 searches the graphics adjustment setting storage216 database to check whether there exists a graphics adjustmentsetting. The graphics processing module 224 then retrieves and appliesthe previously stored video graphics adjustment setting having apreviously stored association with the detected resolution of thedigital video content. The previously stored association indicates thatapplication of the video graphics adjustment setting to digital videocontent having the detected resolution avoids edges of digital videoframes of digital video content having the detected resolution being cutof when presented on the display.

The graphics processing module 224 may also decode, decompress, format,translate, perform digital signal processing, adjust data rate and/orcomplexity or perform other processing on the data representing receivedmedia content as applicable for presenting the received content in realtime on the presentation device as it is being received by the receivingdevice 118.

Other code or programs 230 (e.g., further audio/video processingmodules, a program guide manager module, a Web server, and the like),and potentially other data repositories, such as data repository 220 forstoring other data (user profiles, preferences and other configurationdata, etc.), also reside in the memory 201, and preferably execute onone or more CPUs 203. Of note, one or more of the components in FIG. 2may or may not be present in any specific implementation. For example,some embodiments may not provide other computer readable media 205 or adisplay 202.

In some embodiments, the receiving device 118 and graphics adjustmentoperation manager 222 includes an application program interface (“API”)that provides programmatic access to one or more functions of thereceiving device 118 and operation manager 222. For example, such an APImay provide a programmatic interface to one or more functions of thegraphics adjustment operation manager 222 that may be invoked by one ofthe other programs 230, the remote 128, the program distributor 106, thecontent provider 104 or some other module. In this manner, the API mayfacilitate the development of third-party software, such as variousdifferent on-demand service applications, user interfaces, plug-ins,adapters (e.g., for integrating functions of the graphics adjustmentoperation manager 222 into desktop or mobile applications), and the liketo facilitate graphics adjustment based on output resolution using thereceiving device 118.

In an example embodiment, components/modules of the receiving device 118and operation manager 222 are implemented using standard programmingtechniques. For example, the graphics adjustment operation manager 222may be implemented as a “native” executable running on the CPU 203,along with one or more static or dynamic libraries. In otherembodiments, the receiving device 118 and graphics adjustment operationmanager 222 may be implemented as instructions processed by a virtualmachine that executes as one of the other programs 230. In general, arange of programming languages known in the art may be employed forimplementing such example embodiments, including representativeimplementations of various programming language paradigms, including butnot limited to, object-oriented (e.g., Java, C++, C#, Visual Basic.NET,Smalltalk, and the like), functional (e.g., ML, Lisp, Scheme, and thelike), procedural (e.g., C, Pascal, Ada, Modula, and the like),scripting (e.g., Perl, Ruby, Python, JavaScript, VBScript, and thelike), or declarative (e.g., SQL, Prolog, and the like).

In a software or firmware implementation, instructions stored in amemory configure, when executed, one or more processors of the receivingdevice 118 to perform the functions of the graphics adjustment operationmanager 222. The instructions cause the CPU 203 or some other processor,such as an I/O controller/processor, to process the media program fordisplay on a presentation device using the processes described herein.

The embodiments described above may also use well-known or othersynchronous or asynchronous client-server computing techniques. However,the various components may be implemented using more monolithicprogramming techniques as well, for example, as an executable running ona single CPU computer system, or alternatively decomposed using avariety of structuring techniques known in the art, including but notlimited to, multiprogramming, multithreading, client-server, orpeer-to-peer (e.g., Bluetooth® wireless technology providing acommunication channel between the receiving device 118 and the secureremote 128), running on one or more computer systems each having one ormore CPUs or other processors. Some embodiments may execute concurrentlyand asynchronously, and communicate using message passing techniques.Equivalent synchronous embodiments are also supported by a graphicsadjustment operation manager 222 implementation. Also, other functionscould be implemented and/or performed by each component/module, and indifferent orders, and by different components/modules, yet still achievethe functions of the receiving device 118 and operation manager 222.

In addition, programming interfaces to the data stored as part of thereceiving device 118 and graphics adjustment operation manager 222, canbe available by standard mechanisms such as through C, C++, C#, and JavaAPIs; libraries for accessing files, databases, or other datarepositories; scripting languages such as XML; or Web servers, FTPservers, or other types of servers providing access to stored data. Thegraphics adjustment setting storage 216 and other data 220 may beimplemented as one or more database systems, file systems, or any othertechnique for storing such information, or any combination of the above,including implementations using distributed computing techniques.

Different configurations and locations of programs and data arecontemplated for use with techniques described herein. A variety ofdistributed computing techniques are appropriate for implementing thecomponents of the illustrated embodiments in a distributed mannerincluding but not limited to TCP/IP sockets, RPC, RMI, HTTP, and WebServices (XML-RPC, JAX-RPC, SOAP, and the like). Other variations arepossible. Other functionality could also be provided by eachcomponent/module, or existing functionality could be distributed amongstthe components/modules in different ways, yet still achieve thefunctions of the graphics adjustment operation manager 222.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, some or all of the components of thereceiving device 118 and operation manager 222 may be implemented orprovided in other manners, such as at least partially in firmware and/orhardware, including, but not limited to one or more application-specificintegrated circuits (“ASICs”), standard integrated circuits, controllers(e.g., by executing appropriate instructions, and includingmicrocontrollers and/or embedded controllers), field-programmable gatearrays (“FPGAs”), complex programmable logic devices (“CPLDs”), and thelike. Some or all of the system components and/or data structures mayalso be stored as contents (e.g., as executable or othermachine-readable software instructions or structured data) on acomputer-readable medium (e.g., as a hard disk; a memory; a computernetwork, cellular wireless network or other data transmission medium; ora portable media article to be read by an appropriate drive or via anappropriate connection, such as a DVD or flash memory device) so as toenable or configure the computer-readable medium and/or one or moreassociated computing systems or devices to execute or otherwise use, orprovide the contents to perform, at least some of the describedtechniques.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method 300 of providing graphicsadjustment based on output resolution, according to one exampleembodiment.

At 302, the receiving device 118 detects a resolution of digital videocontent to be output from the receiving device to a display.

At 304, the receiving device 118, in response to detecting theresolution of the digital video content to be output from the receivingdevice to the display, retrieves, based on the detected resolution ofthe digital video content, a previously stored video graphics adjustmentsetting having a previously stored association with the detectedresolution of the digital video content. The previously storedassociation is that application of the video graphics adjustment settingto digital video content having the detected resolution avoids edges ofdigital video frames of digital video content having the detectedresolution being cut of when presented on the display.

At 306, the receiving device 118, in response to retrieving thepreviously stored video graphics adjustment, applies the previouslystored video graphics adjustment setting to the digital video content tobe output from the receiving device. In some embodiments, this is beforethe digital video content to be output from the receiving device ispresented on the display.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method 400 of providing graphicsadjustment based on output resolution, according to another exampleembodiment.

At 402, the receiving device 118 outputs for presentation on a displaydigital video content for which edges of digital video frames of thedigital video content are not cut off when presented on the display.

At 404, the receiving device 118 outputs for presentation on thedisplay, different digital video content having a different resolution.In this case, the edges of digital video frames are cut off whenpresented on the display.

At 406, the receiving device 118 receives input from a user indicating avideo graphics adjustment setting of the different digital videocontent, for example, as it is being displayed on the presentationdevice.

At 408, the receiving device 118 applies the video graphics adjustmentsetting to the different digital video content. This application of thegraphics setting avoids the digital video frames of the differentdigital video content having the resolution being cut off when presentedon the display. For example the user may use the remote 128 to inputinstructions to the receiving device 118 to resize the digital videocontent, which may cause the receiving device 118 to downscale thedigital video frames of the digital video content such that the entirevideo frame fits into a smaller area on the screen which then allows foredges of the originally sized area to be cut off without losing any partof the scene.

At 410, the receiving device 118 associates the video graphicsadjustment setting with the resolution of the different digital videocontent that was output to the display and, in some embodiments, withthe particular presentation device.

At 412, the receiving device 118 stores, for future retrieval by areceiving device 118, the video graphics adjustment setting and theassociation of the video graphics adjustment setting with the resolutionof the different digital video content that was output to the display.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method 500 of providing graphicsadjustment based on output resolution, according to another exampleembodiment.

At 502, the receiving device 118 detects different resolutions ofdifferent digital video content to be output from the receiving deviceto a display as the various different digital video content is receivedby the receiving device 118.

At 504, the receiving device 118 determines whether there exists instorage a corresponding video graphics adjustment setting associatedwith the detected different resolution of the digital video currentlybeing received. The receiving device may perform this function bysearching in its local and/or a remote database for a correspondingpreviously stored video graphics adjustment setting associated with thedetected different resolution. The association with the detectedresolution is that application of the corresponding previously storedvideo graphics adjustment setting to digital video content having thedetected resolution avoids edges of digital video frames of digitalvideo content having the detected resolution being cut of when presentedon the display.

If the receiving device 118 determined there does not exist in storage acorresponding video graphics adjustment setting associated with thedetected resolution, the process returns to 502.

At 506, if the receiving device 118 determined there does exist instorage a corresponding video graphics adjustment setting associatedwith the detected resolution, the receiving device 118 retrieves thecorresponding previously stored video graphics adjustment setting fromstorage.

At 508, the receiving device 118, in response to the retrieving thecorresponding previously stored video graphics adjustment setting,applies the corresponding previously stored video graphics adjustmentsetting to the current digital video content to be output from thereceiving device. The process then returns to 502 to process furtherdigital video content.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method 600 of providing graphicsadjustment based on output resolution, according to another exampleembodiment.

At 602, the receiving device 118 detects different resolutions ofdifferent digital video content to be output from the receiving deviceto a display as the various different digital video content is receivedby the receiving device 118.

At 604, the receiving device 118 determines whether there exists instorage a corresponding video graphics adjustment setting associatedwith the detected resolution of the digital video currently beingreceived. The receiving device may perform this function by searching inits local and/or a remote database for a corresponding previously storedvideo graphics adjustment setting associated with the detectedresolution. The association with the detected resolution is thatapplication of the corresponding previously stored video graphicsadjustment setting to digital video content having the detectedresolution avoids edges of digital video frames of digital video contenthaving the detected resolution being cut of when presented on thedisplay. If the receiving device 118 determined there does not exist instorage a corresponding video graphics adjustment setting associatedwith the detected resolution, the process proceeds to 606.

At 606, the receiving device 118 receives input from a user indicating avideo graphics adjustment setting of the digital video content, forexample, as it is being displayed on the presentation device.

At 608, the receiving device 118 applies the video graphics adjustmentsetting to the different digital video content. This application of thegraphics setting avoids the digital video frames of the digital videocontent having the resolution being cut off when presented on thedisplay. For example the user may use the remote 128 to inputinstructions to the receiving device 118 to resize the digital videocontent, which may cause the receiving device 118 to downscale thedigital video frames of the digital video content such that the entirevideo frame fits into a smaller area on the screen, which then allowsfor edges of the originally sized area to be cut off without losing anypart of the scene.

At 610, the receiving device 118 associates the video graphicsadjustment setting with the resolution of the digital video content thatwas output to the display and, in some embodiments, with the particularpresentation device. The process then returns to 602 to process furtherdigital video content.

At 612, if the receiving device 118 determined there does exist instorage a corresponding video graphics adjustment setting associatedwith the detected resolution, the receiving device 118 retrieves thecorresponding previously stored video graphics adjustment setting fromstorage.

At 614, the receiving device 118, in response to the retrieving thecorresponding previously stored video graphics adjustment setting,applies the corresponding previously stored video graphics adjustmentsetting to the current digital video content to be output from thereceiving device. The process then returns to 602 to process furtherdigital video content.

While various embodiments have been described herein above, it is to beappreciated that various changes in form and detail may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention(s) presently orhereafter claimed.

1-8. (canceled)
 9. A system for video graphics adjustment comprising: atleast one processor; at least one memory in communication with the atleast one processor, the at least one memory having computer-executableinstructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the at least oneprocessor to: output, by a receiving device, for presentation on adisplay digital video content for which edges of digital video frames ofthe digital video content are not cut off when presented on the display;before detecting a resolution of second different video content to beoutput from the receiving device to a display, output by the receivingdevice, for presentation on the display, first different digital videocontent, wherein edges of digital video frames of the first differentdigital video content are cut off when presented on the display;receive, by the receiving device, input from a user indicating a videographics adjustment setting; apply, by the receiving device, the videographics adjustment setting to the first different digital videocontent, wherein the video graphics adjustment setting being applied tothe first different digital video content avoids the digital videoframes of the first different digital video content being cut off whenpresented on the display; associate the video graphics adjustmentsetting with a resolution of the first different digital video contentthat was output to the display; store, for future retrieval by areceiving device, the video graphics adjustment setting and theassociation of the video graphics adjustment setting with the resolutionof the first different digital video content that was output to thedisplay; detect the resolution of the second different digital videocontent to be output from the receiving device to the display, whereinthe detected resolution of the second digital video content is a sameresolution as the resolution of the first different digital videocontent; in response to the detecting the resolution of the seconddifferent digital video content to be output from the receiving deviceto the display, retrieve, based on the detected resolution of the seconddifferent digital video content being the same resolution as theresolution of the first different digital video content, the previouslystored video graphics adjustment setting, wherein the previously storedassociation is that application of the video graphics adjustment settingto digital video content having the detected resolution avoids edges ofdigital video frames of digital video content having the detectedresolution being cut of when presented on the display; and in responseto the retrieving the previously stored video graphics adjustmentsetting, applying, the previously stored video graphics adjustmentsetting to the second different digital video content to be output fromthe receiving device before the second different digital video contentto be output from the receiving device is presented on the display. 10.The system of claim 9, wherein the computer-executable instructions,when executed, further cause the at least one processor to: output thirddifferent digital video content having a different resolution, whereinedges of digital video frames of the third different digital videocontent having the different resolution are cut off when presented onthe display; receive input from a user indicating a different videographics adjustment setting; apply the different video graphicsadjustment setting to the third different digital video content havingthe different resolution, wherein the different video graphicsadjustment setting being applied to the third different digital videocontent having the different resolution avoids the digital video framesof the third different digital video content having the differentresolution being cut off when presented on the display; associate thedifferent video graphics adjustment setting with the differentresolution of the third different digital video content that was outputto the display; and store, for future retrieval by a receiving device,the different video graphics adjustment setting and the association ofthe different video graphics adjustment setting with the differentresolution of the third different digital video content that was outputto the display.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein thecomputer-executable instructions, when executed, further cause the atleast one processor to: detect a resolution of fourth different digitalvideo content to be output from the receiving device to the display; inresponse to the detecting the resolution of the fourth different digitalvideo content to be output from the receiving device to the display,search for a previously stored video graphics adjustment settingassociated with the detected resolution of the fourth different digitalvideo content to be output from the receiving device to the display;retrieve the previously stored video graphics adjustment settingassociated with the detected resolution of the fourth different digitalvideo content to be output from the receiving device to the display, theassociation with the detected resolution of the fourth different digitalvideo content being that application of the video graphics adjustmentsetting associated with the detected resolution of the fourth differentdigital video content to digital video content having the detectedresolution of the fourth different digital video content avoids edges ofdigital video frames of digital video content having the detectedresolution of the fourth different digital video content being cut ofwhen presented on the display; and in response to the retrieving thepreviously stored video graphics adjustment setting associated with thedetected resolution of the fourth different digital video content, applythe previously stored video graphics adjustment setting associated withthe detected resolution of the fourth different digital video content tothe fourth different digital video content to be output from thereceiving device before the fourth different digital video content to beoutput from the receiving device is presented on the display.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the detected resolution of the fourthdifferent digital video content is different than the resolution of thefirst different digital video content and the previously stored videographics adjustment setting associated with the detected resolution ofthe fourth different digital video content is different than thepreviously stored video graphics adjustment setting associated with theresolution of the first different digital video content that was outputto the display.
 13. The system of claim 10 wherein the resolution of thefirst different digital video content is a high definition (HD) digitalvideo resolution and the different resolution of the third differentdigital video content is a video resolution higher than HD resolution.14. The system of claim 13 wherein the HD digital video resolution is atleast 1920 pixels×1080 lines and the different resolution is at least3840 pixels×2160 lines.
 15. The system of claim 9 wherein the videographics adjustment setting includes a resizing of the digital videocontent having the detected resolution.
 16. The system of claim 15wherein the resizing of the digital video content having the detectedresolution includes downscaling of digital video frames of the digitalvideo content.
 17. The system of claim 9 wherein the video graphicsadjustment setting is includes a repositioning of frames of the digitalvideo content on the display.
 18. A non-transitory computer-readablemedium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, whenexecuted, cause at least one processor to: detect a plurality ofdifferent resolutions of each different digital video content of aplurality of different digital video content to be output from areceiving device to a display; for each detected different resolution ofeach different digital video content: search for a correspondingpreviously stored video graphics adjustment setting associated with thedetected different resolution, the association with the detecteddifferent resolution being that application of the correspondingpreviously stored video graphics adjustment setting to digital videocontent having the detected different resolution avoids edges of digitalvideo frames of digital video content having the detected differentresolution being cut of when presented on the display; retrieve thecorresponding previously stored video graphics adjustment setting; andin response to the retrieving the corresponding previously stored videographics adjustment setting, apply the corresponding previously storedvideo graphics adjustment setting to the different digital video contentto be output from the receiving device; before detecting a resolution ofsecond additional different video content to be output from thereceiving device to the display, output by the receiving device, forpresentation on the display, first additional different digital videocontent, wherein edges of digital video frames of the first additionaldifferent digital video content are cut off when presented on thedisplay; receive, by the receiving device, input from a user indicatinga video graphics adjustment setting; apply, by the receiving device, thevideo graphics adjustment setting to the first additional differentdigital video content, wherein the video graphics adjustment settingbeing applied to the first additional different digital video contentavoids the digital video frames of the first additional differentdigital video content being cut off when presented on the display;associate the video graphics adjustment setting with a resolution of thefirst additional different digital video content that was output to thedisplay; store, for future retrieval by a receiving device, the videographics adjustment setting and the association of the video graphicsadjustment setting with the resolution of the first additional differentdigital video content that was output to the display; detect theresolution of the second additional different digital video content tobe output from the receiving device to the display, wherein the detectedresolution of the second digital video content is a same resolution asthe resolution of the first additional different digital video content;in response to the detecting the resolution of the second additionaldifferent digital video content to be output from the receiving deviceto the display, retrieve, based on the detected resolution of the secondadditional different digital video content being the same resolution asthe resolution of the first additional different digital video content,the previously stored video graphics adjustment setting, wherein thepreviously stored association is that application of the video graphicsadjustment setting to digital video content having the detectedresolution avoids edges of digital video frames of digital video contenthaving the detected resolution being cut of when presented on thedisplay; and in response to the retrieving the previously stored videographics adjustment setting, applying, the previously stored videographics adjustment setting to the second additional different digitalvideo content to be output from the receiving device before the secondadditional different digital video content to be output from thereceiving device is presented on the display.
 19. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the correspondingpreviously stored video graphics adjustment setting includes a resizingof the different digital video content to be output from the receivingdevice.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19wherein the resizing of the different digital video content to be outputfrom the receiving device